Bulk plant receiving recorder



Jam `22, 1946- A; J. GRANBERG 25393464- BULK PLANT RECEIVING RECORDER Filed Feb. 17, 1942 HTTORNEYS.

Patented-.Imaz 194s UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE Application February 1 7, 1942, Serial No, 431,239

(Cl. 137-78) l 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a bulk plant receiving recorder for liquids, and more particularly` to such a system wherein liquid delivered to the plant can be accurately recorded and thereafter stored and simultaneously dispensed.

The term bulkplant is defined herein as a plant having extensive facilities for storage of liquids such as gasoline, fuel oil, lubricating oil and the like, together -With means for loading liquids into transporting means, such as, for example, tank trucks. Such bulk plants may be supplied wit liquid from tank trucks or tank cars.

It is highly desirable that loading be carried on during delivery of liquid to the bulk plant. Under these conditions there are two paths for the liquid toward 'tank 8 only when a certain pressure has to travel, one path leads `into a storage tank, and

- one path leads into the tank to be loaded.

Under these circumstances if liquid is taken only from the storage tank while the tanks to be loaded are being nlled, time is lost. Likewise, if the storage tank is lled, without loading the outgoing tanks, then time is also lost. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a system which will permit incoming liquids to travel simultaneously in two directions, i. e., to

the tanks to be loaded, and if these tanks do not take all of the liquid which is being unloaded, the remainder may be passed to the storage tank. A further object of my invention is to provide a single meter strategically positioned, so that the volume of liquid being unloaded is accurately recorded, irrespective of whethen it goes to the tanks being loaded, or tothe storage tank. A third object of the invention is to provide a system wherein a single pump may be utilized, not

only for the simultaneous storage and unloading of liquid, but also for direct use in loading tanks from the storage tank when no liquid is being unloaded,

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out'in the description forming a part of this' speciiication, but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claim.

The drawing shows a piping diagram of a sys- 'tem operating in accordance with my invention,

where liquid can be received, and thereafter simultaneously delivered, if desired, to both a storage tank and an outgoing delivery system so that a single record can be made of all incoming liquid.

My invention may bey more properly understood by direct reference to the drawing.

An inlet pipe I is provided,this pipe being valve 2, a branch line 5 connects'with line I and leads to a two-way tank valve 6. This valve is operated by an arm l, and in the position shown .in the drawing, connects a storage tank 8 through a storage tank valve 9 to a tank line I0. Tank line vII) then passes through a spring loaded check-valve II, which allows passage of liquid V been reached, this pressure varying in accorda meter I6, the meter being of any conventional type for metering liquids handled by the plant,

this. meter having a registering dial I1.

After the meter pipe line I2 .has passed through the meter, it passes through an air eliminator I8 also of any conventional type operating to remove air from liquids, as is customary in metering fuels of various types. Meter line I2, after passing through the air eliminator I8, then passes through asecond two-way valve 20, operated by In the drawing this valve is shown as arm 2l, connecting pump output line 22 to meter line I2. 'I'he other side of valve 20 connects to delivery line I4 through fitting 25. Two-way valve arm 1 is connected to the second two-way valve arm 2| by an operating link 24 so that the two valves can be operated in unison.

Assuming thatthe bulk plant is busy at all times and that at least suiiicient' liquid is stored in storage tank 8 to supply delivery requirements, through delivery valves I5, but is not full, a tank truck or car arrives with liquid to be stored in the tank 8. Under these circumstances, as has been pointed out above, it is desirable to unload the arriving tank without disturbing deliveries through delivery valves'l5. r Yet, at the same time, it is highly important to meter the total liquid entering the bulk plant. Under these oircumstances, the two-way valves 6 and 20 are set for unloading of the arriving tankas shown in the drawing. Under these conditions, valve 2 is opened, and unloading pipe I is inserted into the arriving tank. Pump 4 isstarted. Liquid is pumped from the arriving tank through line I.

pump 4 and pump delivery line 22, then through Y `through valves I5. If, however, and as is much more likely, there will be an excess of incoming liquid forced by 'pump 4 through the meter' I6 and into the meter line I2, the pressure will then open the spring loaded check-valve II to permit the excess liquid to pass through storage line In,

-rst two-way valve 8 and into the storage tank 8.

The liquid under these circumstances will always be properly divided, all the liquid going into the storage tank if none of the valves I5 are open, or the liquid will Ibe delivered both to the storage tank and to the valves, if the valves l5 are not .taking all of the liquid. Only one meter is utilized. This meten. registers all of the liquid entering the -bulk plant irrespective of whether it is stored, or immediately delivered through the output valves of the plant.

The tie bar or link operating the valves is so arranged that the meter cannot be operated except when liquid is being received or pumped into the plant.

After the incoming tank trucks have been emptied it will then be necessary'for the loading platform valves I5 to continue in operation. Under these circumstances, valves 6 and 20 are simultaneously moved to their opposite positions by means of bar 24. Under these conditions, the storage tank 8 is connected directly with the delivery valves IAS, as follows-from storage tank 8 to storage tank valve 9, then through first twoway valve 6, through pipe 5 to pump inlet pipe I. Liquid is prevented from passing outwardly toward the open end of pipe I first by the checkvalve 2', and then by the fact that under these conditions vvalve 2 will be closed. Liquid from storage tank B will then pass through pump 4 into pump outlet line 22, then through valve 2II into delivery pipe I4 and then to the delivery valves I5.

-It will be noted that with valves 6 and 20 in this latter position, that the meter pipe I2 is closed at two points, namely at the valves 5 and 20, and thereby the portion of delivery pipeV I4 connecting meter pipe I2 to fitting 2li-is deadended. Consequently, there is no circulation through the meter I8 and the meter does not operate. Measuring of the outgoing liquid under these circumstances may be performed in the customary manner.

The main object of the present' invention is therefore accomplished; All liquid entering the above plant is metered particularly when, during such entrance, alternate paths are provided Vfor the liquid. Under these circumstances, the

closely checked, irrespective of where the liquid goes, and in conjunction with the usual method of keeping track of outgoing liquid, the operator of the bulk plant knows exactly the receipts at all times.

In contrast. the customary check on liquids delivered toA bulk plants from tank cars or tank transports is usually performed by dropping a tapeline inside of the storage tanks, in order to measure the height of liquid within the tanks before and after unloading. This system makes it difficult to keep an accurate record of the amount received, because as has been above stated, it is often necessary to load outgoing trucks at the same time liquids are being unloaded into the plant.

While I have described my preferred system as embodying a pump, I wish it to beunderstood that gravity distribution is deemed a full equivaent.

I claim: Y Y

A liquid storage and transfer system comprising pumping means having a supply conduit provided with a shutoff valve, and a delivery conduit. a valved dispensing means, a meter, a conduit connected to the meter inlet, a conduit connected to the meter outlet, a first 'flow conduit means establishing a ilrst flow path from the pump and delivery conduit to the meter inlet conduit and a second now path from the pump and delivery conduit to the dispensing conduit, a ilrst two-way valve constructed and arranged to have a iirst position in which flow is had through the iirst path to the exclusion of the second pathand a second position in which flow is had through the second path to the exclusion oi' the iirst path, a. second nowconduit means establishing a ilrst path of dow from the meter and meter outlet conduit to the storage means and a second path from the storage means to a point inthe supply .conduit between the pump and the said shutoff valve, a second two-way valve constructed and arranged to have a first position in which flow is had through the first path to the exclusion of the second path and a second position in which flow is had through the second path to the exclusion of the first path, a spring biased check valve located between the outlet of the meter and the second two-way valve constructed and arranged so as to close against flow from the meter and to open when the pressure in the meter delivery conduit exceeds a predetermined value, a third conduit means extending from the meter conduit at a point between the meter and the' check valve to the dispensing conduit, and means for connecting the two-way valves for simultaneous operation so that both willbe in the nrst position or the second position, the entire arrangement being such that all liquid delivered through the shut-oi! valve will be metered and delivered to the dispensing means and/or storage means and such that liquid delivered to the dispensing means from the storage means will beunmetered.

Y ALBERT J. GRANBERG. 

